Combination swimming pool and fallout shelter



M. PREVITI 3,074,080 MMING POOL AND FALLOUT SHELTER Jan. 22, 1963 COMBINATION SWI 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 22, 1961 i INVENTOR.

BY MARTE PREVITI my w s? 5 5 ATTORNEY Jan. 22, 1963 M. PREVITI 3,074,080

COMBINATION SWIMMING POOL AND FALLOUT SHELTER Filed Sept. 22, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. MARTE PREVITI 3,074,080 COMBINATION SWMMING PUQL AND FALLGUT SHELTER Marta Previti, 35-64 163rd St, Flushing, NY. Filed Sept. 22, 1961, Ser. No. 140,109 1 Claim. (Cl. 4-172) This invention concerns a combination swimming pool and radioactive nuclear fallout shelter.

A principal object of the invention is to facilitate construction of fallout shelters in association with swimming pools.

According to the invention, these structures in combination utilize common systems of water supply, electric power, drainage and sewer; also common air and Water circulation systems, piping, etc. The invention is of particular value to residents in suburban areas where community fallout shelters are not readily accessible, but where swimming pools are conveniently located and associated with individual houses. The invention makes it possible to employ a single ground excavation for both a swimming pool and fallout shelter. Fabrication of the combined unit efiects a great saving in cost since the shelter and pool can be constructed in the same pouring of concrete. The water recirculation and filtration system of the pool and the air circulation system for the shelter may employ the same pump and piping. Sink and toilet Waste in the shelter may be disposed through the drainage system which serves the pool. Controls for filling and emptying the pool can be operated from inside the shelter. The structure may be arranged to pump water over the surface or" the roof of the shelter to minimize radiation exposure and to wash off radioactive fallout. The roof of the shelter serves as a diving board support and platform for the pool. The roof may be pitched to effect runoff of water to the drain of the pool. The shelter may be provided with an emergency exit into the pool. The lighting facilities of the pool and the lighting of the shelter interior may employ common electric power feeder lines.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a combined fallout shelter and swimming pool embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a rectangular excavation E in the ground G which is lined with a concrete pool structure 10 having side walls 12, 14, end walls 15, 16, and a floor 18. The fioor slopes downwardly from end wall 15 to the lowest portion 19 where there is located a drain opening 20 closed by a grid 22. A drain pipe 24 extends from the drain opening 20 and passes underground to a remotely located sewer. A cut-E valve 26 is installed in pipe 24. It has a control shaft 28 extending upwardly through horizontal floor portion 30 and has a handle 32 at its end for opening and closing the valve. A massive, thick vertical wall 34 extends transversely across the pool. This Wall serves as an end of tank C which is partially filled with water W. Floor 18 slopes downwardly at 33 from wall 34 to the low portion 19 where the drain opening 20 is located.

A massive, thick concrete slab 36 is horizontally carried on wall 34 and serves as a platform for the pool. The

3074,00 Faterated Jan. 22, 1963 slab has a slanted top T. A vertical wall or partition 40 is disposed perpendicular to Wall 34 under the slab and divides the space defined by walls 12, 14, 16 and 34 beyond the compartment C into a small pump room P and a larger shelter room S. A door 42 is provided in partition 4-0 providing access between the two rooms.

In slab 36 is an opening 44 having a tapered upper end in which is fitted an access door or cover 46 movable upwardly on a hinge 48. A ladder 50 is secured to the inside of opening 44 and is supported by bracing 52 on end Wall 16. A rope or cable 54 is secured to an eye 56 under the cover 46. This rope can be tied to the ladder to prevent opening of the cover 46'. A flexible diving board 57 is mounted on slab 36 and is held by a crossbar 58.

A water recirculation system is provided for the pool. It includes an inlet pipe 60 which is located just below the top surface of the body of water W. Dirt, dust, grease and other debris collecting on the surface of the water is drawn off through pipe 60 and is forced by a pump 62 in the pump room P through a filter 64, to the outer pipe 66 which extends just above the surface of the water body W. The pump 62 is driven by a motor 68 which may have a self-contained battery power supply or the motor may be energized by an external power supply. Valve 63 in pipe 66 has a shaft 67 passing through wall 34 and operated by handle 61.

The pool is filled with water W via a pipe 70 which extends upwardly above the slab 36. Pipe 70 has a spray head 70'. Fresh water is delivered to pipe 70 via an underground supply pipe 71 and valve 72. The valve is located in room 'P and has a control shaft extending through wall 34. A handle 73 is provided on the end of shaft 75 in room S.

A flood lamp 76 is carried on a pole 73 for illuminating the pool. The lamp is energized via underground wires 8%) from a remote power supply.

The shelter room S is shown provided with a tier of bunk beds 82, table 84 and chair or bench 86. A sink 88 is mounted on wall 40. The sink has a drain 90 connected via a cut-off valve 92 to the drain pipe 24. The sink has a faucet 94 connected via a water supply pipe 95 to the main supply pipe 71. A toilet 98 is provided with a waste pipe 99 connected via valve 100 in room S to drain pipe 24. The toilet has a Water supply pipe 102 passing through wall 40' and connected to supply pipe 95. The toilet has a fiush valve controlled by handle 101.

Fresh air is supplied to the shelter room S via a vertical pipe 10 carried on slab 3d. The pipe has a hood 106 over its upper open end. The pipe 104 extends to an air pump 198 which is driven by motor 68 in room P. An air conduction pipe 110 extends from the pump 108 through wall 40 and through a filter and radioactive decontamination element 112 to a discharge nozzle 114. Between the nozzle 114 and the element 112 is a blower 116 having a manually operable crank 119. The blower 116 normally need not be hand cranked while the motor as is in operation. But if the motor 68 or pump 108 should fail due :to lack of electric power or other cause, then the blower can be hand cranked to draw air into the shelter room S.

Air is exhausted from the shelter room via an exhaust pipe which extends upwardly through slab 36. The pipe has a U-bend and its open end 117 is located just above the slab and below the upper plane of the walls of the concrete structure. The purpose of this air exhaust arrangement is described below.

The room S has an emergency exit 43 which may be used in the event that opening 44 is blocked by debris or other material. The emergency exit 43 is a rectangular opening in the vertical Wall 34'. The opening 43 has tapered edges in which is fitted a rectangular door 120 with mating beveled edges. A threaded post 121 extends inwardly from door 120 and is secured to a crossbar 124. By turning the bar, which is located on the inner side of wall 34 across opening 43, the post can be unscrewed from door 120, and the door can be pushed out of opening 43. A hinge 49 can be provided on the outer side of wall 34 for supporting the door 120 in open position.

In operation of the system, the tank C will be filled with water W via the water supply pipe 70. It will be noted that the pipe 70 discharges on to the slanted top of slab 36 and the water runs down over the slab into the pool to fill it up to the level shown in FIG. 2. The water can be turned off by operating valve 72. The motor 68 can be switched on via switch 69 located in room S and connected to the motor, to operate the water recirculation system.

Suppose that the shelter room is to be occupied in an emergency. The room S will be entered via the door 46 which will be closed-after the occupant or occupants are safely inside the shelter. The pool will be drained of water through drain 24 by opening of valve 26. Fresh water can be run over the slab 36 to Wash oiI radioactive waste which mightfiall thereon. Thereafter the pool can be refilled to a level A-A '(see FIG. 3) above the slab 36. Opening 117 of pipe 115 will then be under water. This prevents airborne radioactive dust from entering the shelter room.

Air is drawn into the room S via the pump 108 driven by motor 63. If the motor or pump is inoperative then the blower 116 will be hand operated by turning crank 119. The water recirculation control valve 63 will be turned ed. The sink and toilet can be used by opening and closing the several water supply and drain valves when required. Electric light for the shelter room is provided by a lamp 125 energized by wires 128 connected underground -to wires 80. It will be noted that the slab 36 is very massive as is wall 34 so that the shelter room can withstand considerable externally applied forces as might occur during a bombing raid.

The construction of the shelter room is integral with that of the swimming pool. The shelter utilizes the same ground excavation and thesame concrete walls as the pool. Water supply, electric power, and drainage systems all have parts common to both the shelter and pool. The pool water supply serves to wash away radioactive waste falling on the shelter and pool. Controls of the system are located in the shelter room.

The invention makes it feasible for residents of houses to be provided with swimming pools, to obtain adequate fallout and bomb shelters at very little additional construction expense. In urban areas Where large apartment houses are provided with swimming pools, fallout shelters may be associated with the pools as described herein.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent A swimming pool and radioactive fallout shelter con struction, comprising a box-like concrete structure with vertical end walls, vertical side walls and a floor, a first massive vertical wall extending across said structure between said end walls, a thick massive concrete slab extending horizontally and supported by said first wall, side walls and one end wall, said slab defining a closed bombproof enclosure with said door, said side walls, said one end wall and first wall, the other of said end walls, first wall and floor defining an open top tank, said slab serving as a platform adjacent said tank, the upper ends of said side and end walls being located at ground level, said slab being located below the upper ends of the side and end walls, said floor having downwardly inclined end portions joined at a lowermost intermediate portion, a drain pipe for said tank extending below ground and opening at said intermediate portion of the floor, a water supply pipe located above said slab, said slab having a slanted top surface so that water discharged thereon runs down into said tank, said water supply pipe and drain pipe having control valves, controls for said valves located in said enclosure, fresh water outlets and drain inlets for sink and toilet appliances located in said enclosure, other pipes connected to said outlets and inlets and terminating at said water supply pipe and drain pipe, respectively, a vertical partition extending between said first wall and said one end wall and further supporting said slab, said partition dividing said enclosure into smaller and larger rooms, said sink and toilet appliances being located in the larger room, a water pump in the smaller room, a water inlet pipe opening through said first wall in said tank for drawing surface Water from the tank, said water inlet pipe being connected to the pump, a water'filter, a water outlet pipe connected to the pump in circuit with said filter and opening through said first wall into the tank for discharging filtered water into the tank, a motor in said smaller room driving said pump, an air pump in'said smaller room also driven by said motor, an air inlet pipe supported vertically by said slab and connected to said air pump, an air filter, a fresh air discharge outlet located in the larger room in circuit with said air filter, an exhaust air outlet extending through said slab from said larger room and opening at a point below the upper ends of said side and end walls, so that the opening of the air exhaust outlet will be below water level when the tank is substantially filled to a level close to the upper ends of the side and end walls, and a manually operated blower located between said fresh air discharge outlet and said air filter for drawing air into the larger room when said motor and air pump are deactivated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

